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the career pack.

volume one; before

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One of Elora's least favourite parts of the games was sealing alliances for her tributes with other mentors. It was only her second year and with the young tributes reaped last year the possibility of joining the career pack was impossible for either of them. Now, she sat across from the mentors for districts one and two. If Elora thought she was a cold hearted killer, that she was blood and murder and all things dark, she had nothing on them.

Gloss and Cashmere were not the problem. While they may be Capitol sweethearts, they were polite enough and easy to talk business with. District two was another story. Brutus stared her down for the entire meeting and Elora knew he liked to make her squirm. It was hard to imagine Cato under the guidance of such a deplorable man. 

Cato.

That's all this meeting made her think about. He was playing in her mind like a song on repeat. 

"Coral shows promise, between her high training score and adoring fans she would make an excellent addition to the career pack this year."

Elora knew this. She had thought about it non stop since Coral had been reaped. Even after she met Cato, she had thought about it. In ordinary circumstances, joining the career pack would be the obvious choice. She would have protection for the first three quarters of the game and when numbers got low she could split and go off on her own. In the back of her mind, she knew this was the best option for Coral. Her soul ached to have to watch them together, but at least this meant they weren't threats to each other. Maybe Coral wouldn't make it. Maybe Cato wouldn't have to be the one to kill her.

She was glad Cato wasn't here.

The guilt over playing both sides was never going to disappear but she was tiring. Like the storm, Elora Clarkes resolve was beginning to wane. The strength of her fury was slowing starting to settle, a certain calmness left in its wake. She wanted to see him again, but not like this.

"I'm glad that we can come to an understanding. Coral will join the career pack this year, I can assure you that she will be a valuable asset."

The other mentors smiled in agreement. Brutus simply stared at her, a knowing look in his eye. Elora hated that out of everyone sitting at this table, he was the only one who knew the truth. Knew of that mark that would forever stain her wrist. 

A part of her felt that she had just sealed Corals fate. 

The other part knew that Coral could just as easily turn on Cato, as he could her.

As the others rose to exit the room, he remained. Even when the room was empty, the mentors from district one long gone, they stayed. 

"I want to see him. To say I'm sorry."

If it were possible, the darkness in his eyes lightened a little. Was it pity, sympathy, or sorrow for the waste of one of the best tributes he's had in years? Elora didn't know, but she would be forever appreciative for that slight nod of his head. 

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Cato wasn't sure what to expect when Brutus returns from an early morning meeting. His mentor had missed breakfast in favour of attending what he had described as a mundane meeting with some other mentors. The pleased expression on his face made Cato stand from his seat at the table to meet Brutus in the living area. 

Admittedly, Cato had not paid much attention to alliances recently. His head should have been in the games but Elora seemed to surface in his mind more frequently than he wished. Being distracted could be a lethal mistake, he knew this. At the same time he knew that if he had time to talk to her, a chance to diminish the ache in his chest, the soulmate bond could gift him with a unique focus. There was nothing more important to live for than a soulmate.

"We have secured an alliance with Coral Machen, the girl from four. She'll be joining the career pack."

Cato's heart stopped. 

"You saw Elora?"

A million thoughts rushed through his head. He had once offered Coral protection in exchange for her convincing Elora to talk to him. He had seen her on the rooftop after that, an alliance had never been mentioned, so he had assumed Coral had rejected his offer. All it would take for Elora to give him a chance would be Corals blessing. She had said as much on the rooftop that night, perhaps in not so many words, but he knew it to be the truth.

"I did."

Cato had never hated the stoic nature of his mentor more than this moment.

"And? How was she, did she ask about me."

Cato can see the hesitation in Brutus' expression. The time his mentor takes to gather his thoughts seems to last a lifetime.

"She didn't look too good kid. Tired, I suppose. Stressed too. She wants to see you."

If time could stand still, Cato could've sworn it had. She wanted to see him. He tried not to give in to the relief that spread through him. She wanted to see him. He tried to hold on to that bitterness, to not forgive her so easily. She had turned him away time and time again, had rejected him so many times. What would make this any different? Maybe she was coming to say goodbye and nothing more.

The bitterness returned at that thought. That she wasn't coming to see him because she wanted him, because she believed he would win and they could be together, but instead to reject him one more time. 

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Watching Coral teeter with the additional six inches brings a smile to Elora's face for the first time in days. With the games beginning tomorrow Elora had been feeling dim. Scores had been released last night and while she wanted to feel guilty for it, the relief that soared through her body when she saw that 10 next to Cato was undeniable. He was doing well, he had skill and she was sure he would have plenty of sponsors. The odds were in his favour.

Coral had done well in training too, earning herself a score almost as impressive. The 9 that graced the screen had the whole team cheering. The battle of loyalties raging in Eloras mind could settle for a moment. They were both ok. She could enjoy the small moments of normality, she was allowed that much.

Finnick was sat next to her, his eyes moving between Corals clumsy form and Elora's smile. Beckett was there too, laughing at the way Coral could barely move. She shot everyone a glare, but the faintest smile graced her lips too. It didn't matter how ridiculous Coral felt because she looked beautiful. The stylist had really outdone themselves. Elora's eyes trailed over Corals form, a sense of sorrow filling her when she realised just how far Coral had come. How much she had changed for these games, for these people, who only wanted to watch her die.

"Remember, I want you to be charismatic. You've certainly got the looks to be one of the most sought after victors, especially coming from district four. It's time to act like it".

Coral nodded, barely listening to the last minute advice that she'd heard at least fifty times that day. Acting like a female version of Finnick wasn't too hard to comprehend. Despite this, her mind lingered on the comment. District four victors were always well loved by the Capitol, but Elora and Finnick always made it sound like they were objects to be bought. Her eyes found their way to Elora's scars. She had seen them before as Elora never made it a habit to cover them up at home, but she had never seen her display them so openly in the capitol. The tight dress with cut outs provided the perfect opportunity for capitol citizens to feast their eyes on her disfigured form.

Her skin was marred so violently it barely resembled flesh. Several areas across her right torso and thigh looked as though someone had attempted to piece her body together with not enough parts. Coral wondered why she would choose to wear such a revealing dress. 

"I want you to know that I'm going to talk to Cato tonight, just before his interview. Just to talk. Say goodbye. I'll be there with you tomorrow in the catacombs, so I won't be able to see him."

If Coral was surprised, she certainly didn't show it. Maybe she had expected this. 

"You deserve more than this, Elora."

The tension in the room seemed to increase tenfold. Coral was new to the world of the capitol, and she wasn't a victor. She had yet to learn the consequences of speaking out of turn. Finnick gripped Elora's shoulder tight, a warning glimmering in his eyes. They were being listened to, they always were, and Snow would not appreciate such a blatant statement of disrespect.

"I have a wonderful life, Coral. Everything I could wish for. Maybe it's true that I deserve a soulmate that I can have a life with, but that's just not an option."

The confusion in Coral's expression was clear, but something in Elora's eyes stopped her from pushing the topic. Was it fear? Of what, Coral wasn't sure. 

"Go see him tomorrow, too. I'll be ok in the catacombs without, besides my stylist will be there. We've prepared Elora, you would only be there for comfort. Besides, it would be nice to have some time to myself just before. Gather my thoughts. Say goodbye to River."

Her heart clenches at the mention of Corals soulmate but she said no more. She pushes down the sorrow, pushes down the heartbreak.

There would be plenty of heartbreak to come.